“Fish Tank,” “Moon” Lead British Indie Award Nods
Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” led the 12th annual British Independent Film Award nominations, which were announced today at Soho House in London. The film managed eight nominations, including best film, best director, best screenplay, and acting nods for Katie Jarvis, Kierston Wareing and Michael Fassbender. The film, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year, will be released Stateside via IFC Films this January.
Other films that had a major presence within the nominations were Duncan Jones’ “Moon,” with seven nominations, while Lone Scherfig’s “An Education,” Armando Iannucci’s “In The Loop,” and Sam Taylor Wood’s “Nowhere Boy” each received six. Also notable is that three of the five best film nominees – the noted “Tank,” “Education” and “Boy” – were directed by women.
Overall, it’s an impressive lineup of films, indicative of a great year for British independent cinema. It’s also suggestive of the influx of fresh blood in the UK – three of the five best film nominees were directed by first timers, while Abbie Cornish, Carey Mulligan, Katie Jarvis, Aaron Johnson, Andy Serkis, Peter Capaldi, Sam Rockwell, Tom Hardy, Anne-Marie Duff, Kerry Fox, Alfred Molina, John Henshaw, Christian McKay and Hilda Peter are all first-time acting nominees.
A scene from Duncan Jones’ “Moon.”The five nominees for the awards’ foreign-made category included “Sin Nombre,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Il Divo,” “Let The Right One In,” and “The Wrestler.”
The BIFA Pre-Selection Committee of 70 members viewed more than 200 films, out of which they selected the nominations, decided by ballot. Daniel Day Lewis was additionally announced as the winner of the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor.
BIFA’s new jury is comprised of professionals and talent from across the British film industry including: Actress Jodie Whittaker, Actors Idris Elba, Liam Cunningham, Eddie Marsan and Peter Mullan, Directors Sarah Gavron and Eran Creevy, Producers Dixie Linder, Anita Overland and Adrian Sturges, Documentary Filmmaker Kate Blewett, Film Marketing Consultant Robert Mitchell, Projectionist Paul Speed and Head of Distribution and Exhibition at The UK Film Council Peter Buckingham.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday 6 December at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, in London and will be hosted by James Nesbitt. The complete list of nominations is available on page 2 of this article.
The complete list of British Independent Film Award nominations:
Best British Independent Film
An Education
Fish Tank
In The Loop
Moon
Nowhere Boy
Best Director
Andrea Arnold – Fish Tank
Armando Iannucci – In The Loop
Duncan Jones – Moon
Jane Campion – Bright Star
Lone Scherfig – An Education
The Douglas Hickox Award [Best Debut Director]
Armando Iannucci – In The Loop
Duncan Jones – Moon
Peter Strickland – Katalin Varga
Sam Taylor Wood – Nowhere Boy
Samantha Morton – The Unloved
Best Screenplay
An Education – Nick Hornby
Fish Tank – Andrea Arnold
In The Loop – Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Moon – Nathan Parker
Nowhere Boy – Matt Greenhalgh
Best Actress
Abbie Cornish – Bright Star
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Katie Jarvis – Fish Tank
Sophie Okonedo – Skin
Best Actor
Aaron Johnson – Nowhere Boy
Andy Serkis – Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Peter Capaldi – In The Loop
Sam Rockwell – Moon
Tom Hardy – Bronson
Best Supporting Actress
Anne-Marie Duff – Nowhere Boy
Kerry Fox – Bright Star
Kierston Wareing – Fish Tank
Kristin Scott Thomas – Nowhere Boy
Rosamund Pike – An Education
Best Supporting Actor
Alfred Molina – An Education
Jim Broadbent – The Damned United
John Henshaw – Looking For Eric
Michael Fassbender – Fish Tank
Tom Hollander – In The Loop
Most Promising Newcomer
Christian Mckay – Me & Orson Welles
Edward Hogg – White Lightnin’
George Mackay – The Boys Are Back
Hilda Peter – Katalin Varga
Katie Jarvis – Fish Tank
Best Achievement In Production
Bronson
Bunny & The Bull
The Hide
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
Katalin Varga
Raindance Award
Colin
The Disappearance Of Alice Creed
Down Terrace
Exam
They Call It Acid
Best Technical Achievement
Bright Star – Cinematography – Greig Fraser
Bunny & The Bull – Production Design – Gary Williamson
Fish Tank – Cinematography – Robbie Ryan
Moon – Original Score – Clint Mansell
Moon – Production Design – Tony Noble
Best Documentary
The Age Of Stupid
The End Of The Line
Mugabe And The White African
Sons Of Cuba
Sounds Like Teen Spirit
Best British Short
Christmas With Dad
Leaving
Love You More
Sidney Turtlebaum
Washdays
Best Foreign Film
Il Divo
The Hurt Locker
Let The Right One In
Sin Nombre
The Wrestler
